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Big Pine, California

Newspaper Articles

1884

Inyo Independent, July 12, 1884
Summary: A shepherd near Big Pine finds a cap of giant powder laying on a rock. When he examined it, the cap exploded, blowing off a finger and the thumb on his right hand.

Inyo Independent, July 12, 1884
Summary: Nicholas Peterson committed suicide at Big Pine, taking laudanum. Mr. Peterson had recently lost three children to scarlet fever and had been oppressed with grief and despondency.

1905

Inyo Register, January 5, 1905
"TABOOSE."
Jack Black, now of Big Pine, has been so critically ill lately that one day the report was circulated here that he was dead. He is now reported to be getting on all right. Chas. Olds is also recovering.

Inyo Register, January 5, 1905
"TABOOSE."
Jesus Escattina, the Mexican arrested last week for disorderly conduct in displaying a revolver, was fined $20 by Justice Uhlmeyer of the Big Pine township, the case coming before him in the absence of Recorder Shannon.

Inyo Register, January 12, 1905
"DIED."
At Big Pine, Cal., December 30, 1904, D.H. Crocker, a native of Maine, aged about 62 years.

Inyo Register, March 2, 1905
"LETTER FROM BIG PINE."
Big Pine, Feb. 28, 1905
... The telegraph brought news of the death in Hawthorne last evening of O. Allerton. The remains are to arrive here Wednesday, and the funeral will take place at 1:30.

Inyo Register, March 16, 1905
"BIG PINE LOSES A GOOD CITIZEN"
In the death of W.G Gothard Big Pine looses a highly esteemed citizen. Particulars of the occurrence are hard to get, but it appears that the death resulted from either heart trouble or from a kick by a mule. He was on his way from Big Pine from Saline Valley and was accompanied by a Chinaman who had been working at the borax plant. Sunday night, they camped at Riddle Spring, thirty miles from Big Pine. The next morning, Gothard rose first and began cooking breakfast, and then the Chinaman next saw him on his bed dead. The Chinaman struck out for Big Pine, where he arrived Tuesday night with the news.

Inyo Register, March 16, 1905
"BIG PINE NEWS"
W.G. Gothard perished in the storm March 12th while teaming from Saline to this place. A Chinaman who was with him brought the news last night. The body was brought in this morning.

Inyo Register, April 13, 1905
"DR. S.G. GEORGE DEAD"
Dr. S.G. George, one of the earliest explorers of the mineral fields in this county died at Porterville April 2nd, after an illness of three weeks. He was the oldest brother of the late Dr. W.H. George of this place and cousin of S.G. Gregg of Big Pine, and one of a remarkably long lived family. His age at the time of death was a little over 91 years. Dr. George was born in Ohio in 1814. His father was a colonel of the Revolutionary war. At an early age, the burden of caring for the family fell upon young Samuel, who worked at different occupations until he was of age. He saved enough money to enter an Ohio medical college from which he graduated. He practiced in Cincinnati for two years when the Mexican War broke out and he entered the army as a surgeon. In 1850 he came to California, settled in Visalia in 1855, and in Porterville in 1871, making that his home since. In the spring of 1860, Dr. George and others accompanied Colonel Russ on an expedition into this region. April 20th 1860 they organized the Russ District, the first semblance of organized government on this side of the Sierras. He was elected secretary of the district, later when the movement to organize the county here was begun, Governor Lowell tendered Dr. George the position of judge, so he was stated to the writer, but the offer was declined.

1906

Inyo Register, January 4, 1906
"LETTER FROM BIG PINE"
Summary: Bennett Wilson died Dec. 22nd. He was uncle of Mrs. John McMurry.

Inyo Register, January 11, 1906
“LETTER FROM BIG PINE."
subheading: “DEATH OF MISS WAYLAND.”
Summary: Miss Susan Wayland died of consumption. She was sister of Mrs. Alice Hodge, of Pomona, and Mrs. J.L. Darrah.

Inyo Register, January 11, 1906
“DIED.”
Summary: In Bishop, January 9, 1906, Miss Susan Wayland.

Inyo Register, September 27, 1906
Summary: Death of Mrs. Stewart, of Big Pine.

1907

Inyo Register, April 4, 1907
"DIED IN LOS ANGELES"
Summary: Death of Mrs. Marion Smith, wife of power plant operator at Green Creek, which supplied electrical power for Bodie, California. She was a Big Pine resident at death.

Inyo Register, June 13, 1907
Summary: Death of James Crocker, of Big Pine, California.

Inyo Register, July 4, 1907
Summary: Drowning death of man in Owens River near Big Pine.

1908

Inyo Register, January 16, 1908
Summary: "Ballarat Kid" dies in Big Pine.

Inyo Register, January 23, 1908
Summary: Horse thieves caught in Big Pine.

Inyo Register, July 9, 1908
Summary: James A. Crocker, of Big Pine , dies at Deep Springs.

Inyo Register, July 30, 1908
"NOTICE TO CREDITORS"
Summary: Estates of Robert M. Chrysler (of Big Pine) and Frank Shaw.

Inyo Register, October 22, 1908
Summary: Death of Mrs. Rossie, of Big Pine. She was 24 years old.

Inyo Register, November 26, 1908
Summary: Death of James Barnes, 72 years of age, who died at the hospital in Big Pine. Mr. Barnes had been an Inyo County resident 30 years. Was a former owner of the Lone Pine Hotel, and also a proprietor at the hotel at Keeler. He was also a Democratic nominee for Sheriff of Inyo County.

Inyo Register, December 3, 1908
"LEG BROKEN BY A HORSE'S KICK"
Summary: H.M. Gibson brought to Big Pine from the Waucoba Road suffering from a badly broken leg. He was riding on a wagon without a front board, his feet hanging down. He kicked one of the horses to stimulate them, and they immediately kicked back, breaking both bones of one leg below the knee. The accident occurred near McMurry Springs. W.P. Teel was nearby and brought the injured man to the valley.

Inyo Register, December 10, 1908
"DEATHS REPORTED."
Summary: James Ryan, 62 years old, died at the County Farm at Big Pine. Mr. Ryan had been in southern Inyo County for the last ten years. Another death was that of M. Marks, who was a traveling salesman - "a cigar drummer for 35 years in the Inyo County area." Died in San Francisco. Universally respected by all who knew him. Aged about 70 years. And a letter from a Mrs. J.S. Brown, formerly of Bishop, now of Moose Lake, Quebec, sent a letter to her old acquaintances from Inyo County, saying that her adopted daughter Pearl is dead. The young woman was 22 years old, a full sister of Mrs. Ed M. Chamberlain and John Tibbets of Bishop.

Inyo Register, December 31, 1908
“A CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY."
Summary: Frank Sanders deliberately murdered by M.J. Lovett at Big Pine. Lovett, owner of adjacent tract of land in western Big Pine, had a dispute over intrusions of chickens on Christmas morning. A shot was heard, Lovett had killed a rooster. A warrant was asked for against Lovett. Judge Uhlmeyer refused to issue the warrant. As Sanders and his brother were returning home with the chicken, he threw it into the yard of Lovett and was shot twice. The shots were fired through the screen door of the Lovett house. Sanders clutched his breast, staggered out southerly about twenty feet and fell. Another shot was fired at Sander's brother, who had a pistol, but did not fire back. The deputy sheriff went to Lovett’s house and was arrested without objection. The fatal shots were from a shotgun with BB shot. More than a hundred pellets struck the victim. The coroner’s inquest said that any of 15 of the pellets would have been fatal. Six passed through the heart. The victim, Frank Sanders, oldest of six brothers, coming from Arkansas. He was 43 years old the day he was killed. He came to Big Pine from Riverside County about 15 years ago. He had only met Lovett the day before. Lovett is a miner coming to Big Pine from Randsburg about two years ago. 39 years old. Native of Texas. Characteristic is his carrying a pistol. Frequent target practice with weapons of all kinds. Lovett was taken to Independence for safe keeping. When he left, he bade his family without emotion of any kind. He was taken to Independence for safe keeping, it says ...

“ ... for the temper of the people was for summary punishment.”

1909

Inyo Register, January 7, 1909
"RIBS BROKEN."
Summary: Big Pine, California man brought in from Deep Springs. He was on a fence trying to reach a tree limb to cut off and the board he was standing on broke and he fell across the board below. He broke two ribs.

Inyo Register, April 15, 1909
"BIG PINE ITEMS"
Summary: James Franklin Smith died in Silver Peak, Nevada, Wednesday morning, April 7 and buried in Big Pine Thursday afternoon. He leaves a wife, four daughters and three sons, a brother and sister. His sister is Mrs. G.A. McAfee. He was born in Canada August 13, 1842. Having lived in Big Pine at one time.

Inyo Register, April 22, 1909
"THROWN FROM A BUGGY"
Summary: W.H. Leffingwell and Edson F. Adams, of the Mono Power Company, were thrown from a buggy during progress of a runaway last Friday. They were coming to make an inspection trip when the runaway occurred. They both escaped with no broken bones, but “countenances show the effects with violent contact with Mother Earth." Mr. Adams has a sprained wrist. They were driving through Big Pine, and near Charles A. Partridge’s place, one of the bolts holding the circle bar of the buggy came out. The erratic motion of the buggy frightened the team, which began to run, ultimately causing the upset. The occupants were thrown out and the upper works of the vehicle considerably damaged. The horses ran until they freed themselves, and they were later caught.

Inyo Register, May 6, 1909
"BIG PINE ITEMS."
Summary: Death of Lew Payson May 4th. Early Inyo pioneer. Resident of Antelope Springs in Deep Springs Valley. Lew Payson died at the residence of Fred Crocker in Big Pine. He had just passed his 80th birthday. His remains were laid away in Big Pine Cemetery.

Inyo Register, May 6, 1909
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO"
Inyo Independent, May 3, 1873.
Summary: Inyo County Assessor Frank Dillon had a horse stolen at Big Pine. A chase was made after the thief, whom they caught at McBride’s Ranch near Benton. The horsethief was Harry Kane.

Inyo Register, May 6, 1909
"THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO"
Inyo Independent, May 3, 1873.
Summary: Duncan Campbell Jr. of Lida has been laying dangerously ill. His parents rode to Lida in night from Big Pine. Mr. Campbell Sr. then rode 60-miles further to Columbus for a doctor.

1952

Inyo Register, January 3, 1952
“FORMER VALLEY RANCHER DIES”
Charles Percy Watson, 73, of Red Bluff, a resident of the Owens Valley for many years and a former ranch owner in the Big Pine area, died Dec. 21, at a Red Bluff hospital following a short illness. Funeral service were held Monday, Dec. 24, and burial was at Oak Hill cemetery, Red Bluff.
Mr. Watson was a native of New York City and a retired army major of World War I. He was a member of the Franklin Masonic lodge of Mt. Lassen post 167, and of the Disabled American Veterans of Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his widow Leatha; two daughters, Mrs. Ruth Yates, of Redding, and Miss Dora Watson, of Red Bluff; one son, Robert C. Watson, of Redding, and four grandchildren.

Inyo Register, January 10, 1952
“FORMER OWENS VALLEY RESIDENT DIES.”
Charles S. Willson, 85, a resident of Owens Valley for many years and a ranch owner in Big Pine, died Jan. 5 at the home of his son, Albert Willson in Hawthorne, California. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday of this week in Inglewood.
Mr. Willson was born in Gilroy and moved to Big Pine in 1902. He purchased a ranch on Stewart Lane which he sold in 1925, and moved to Santa Cruz. He lived in Santa Cruz until four years ago when he moved to Hawthorne with his son.
He is survived by his children, Howard A of Big Pine, Evelyn Smith of Oakland, Frank of San Francisco, Albert of Hawthorne, and a step-son, Lyle Darrell of Lone Pine, and 12 grandchildren.

Inyo Register, January 10, 1952
“BIG PINE COUPLE CREDITED WITH SAVING BABY'S LIFE.”
Mr. And Mrs. Charles Wade of Big Pine and a recently-purchased resuscitator were credited with saving the life of the eight-month-old son of Mr. And Mrs. Joe Cassiano last Wednesday morning.
When the baby awoke in the morning choking with croup the parents immediately called Mrs. Wade, county health nurse. The Wades rushed the baby to the Northern Inyo Hospital and used the resuscitator en route to keep the baby breathing.
On arrival at the hospital they were told that if the resuscitator had not been used in the infant probably would not have survived.
The life saving equipment was recently purchased by the Big Pine fire department.

Miscellaneous Documentation

County of Inyo, California
Recorder's Office, Death Records
Carrie Gregg Crocker, died August 20, 1939.
Steven Gregg, died February 6, 1910

Law & Order, Life & Death California Site List

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Page Revised: 05/03/2007