MYSTIC MINING AT THE BOSWELL GROUP OF MINES

Video filmed on location. © 2022 & 2023

Was a medium from San Francisco really used to conduct mystic mining at the Boswell Group of Mines? I claim the account to be hogwash, but local media outlets of the time document these interesting accounts claiming that W.S. Boyd and his mining partner George W. Boswell utilized these spiritualists to gain success in their Boswell Group of Mines. Later on, this property was owned and operated by the Redding Consolidated Mines. Join my friend Robert Frazier, host of California Unearthed, and I, as we take you on a historical tour of these mystical mining grounds and see what remains of them today.

Resources:

Of Interest To Prospectors - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 10, 1890

Attention Prospectors - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 31, 1890

Some of Our Mines - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 19, 1891

Real Estate Transfers - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1897

1900 U.S. Census

Proof Of Labor Book 1, Page 367 - Miners Dream mine, recorded by W.S. Boyd on January 20, 1900

Proof Of Labor Book, 1 Pages 492-493 - Miners Dream mine, recorded by W.S. Boyd on September 10, 1900

Proof Of Labor Book 2, Page 226

Spiritually Worked Mining Property - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 9, 1901

Spirits Tell How To Work A Mine - The Red Bluff Daily News newspaper, August 16, 1901

The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 9, 1902

Mrs. Ada Boswell Is Dead; Funeral This Afternoon - The Red Bluff Daily News newspaper of Red Bluff, March 15, 1922 

Construction Chief of the Boswell Mine Arrives - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 10, 1929

Building Powerline To Muletown Consolidated - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 11, 1929

Shasta Mining Area Active - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, February 16, 1929

To Increase Force - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, May 11, 1929

Redding Consolidated Must Pay the Estate of W.C. Stevens $11,000 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 22, 1930

Personal Property At Old Boswell Mine Sold As Junk, $1,500 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 27, 1931

H.F. Musser, Local Mining Man, Kills Self - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 31, 1931

Last Rites Are Held For H.F. Musser - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 2, 1931

Boswell Group Of Mines Leased - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 6, 1932

Mines Sold - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 6, 1933

Shasta Mine Group Leased - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, April 16, 1933

Woman Files Many Claims In Shasta Area - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, September 17, 1932

Gravity Mill Installed - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, May 6, 1933

Miner Slightly Injured In 30-Foot Fall - The Blue Lake Advocate newspaper of Blue Lake, April 14, 1934

George Boswell Passes On Here At Age Of 78 - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 25, 1934

Cottonwood Cemetery, Established 1886.

Filmed on location.

Even though the Cottonwood Cemetery was established in 1886, the first burial here on this property was made in 1874. This video documents the amazing history of the historic Cottonwood Cemetery. Find out more in this episode of Exploring Shasta County History.

Resources: 

1867 California Voters Register

1870 U.S. Census

U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880

William McClure Wilson’s in the U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015

The Bedford & Wright Family Feud of Anderson: And the Historic John F. Bedford Company Building at 2016 North Street.

 

Filmed on location.

A feud similar to Hatfield’s & McCoy’s of Kentucky and West Virginia? Not quite. A separate family feud? Yes, Shasta County’s own statewide famous feud is highlighted in this YouTube video from Exploring Shasta County History, learn about the Bedford & Wright family feud which statewide media coverage of the time period compared it to the nationally famous Hatfield’s and McCoy’s family feud which was the foundation for the television game show Family Feud. I also dive into the history of the building at 2016 North Street in Anderson, a historic building which was owned and operated by the Bedford family and was also part of a shooting during the feud here in Shasta County. Find out more on this episode of Exploring Shasta County History…  ©2021, 2022 & 2023

Resources:

1860 U.S. Census

John Franklin Bedford marriage to Ella V. Wright, June 2, 1857, Fulton, Georgia.

1866 California Voters Registration 

New Firm - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 16, 1867

Notice - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, February 16, 1867

1868 California Voters Registration 

1870 U.S. Census

Born - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 14, 1870

New Store at Anderson - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 4, 1873

New Store! - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 4, 1873

New Store! - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 15, 1873

In Brief - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 12, 1873

Sample - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, April 19, 1873

Bedford & Wright - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, August 30, 1873

Agricultural Implements - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, October 25, 1873

Born - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 18, 1873

Anderson - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, May 10, 1879

Attempted Suicide - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 16, 1879

1880 U.S. Census

Anderson - The Pacific Rural Press newspaper of San Francisco, March 4, 1882

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 3, 1883

Anderson “Echoes” - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 12, 1885

Real Estate - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Anderson, June 23, 1888

Anderson - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 15, 1888

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 8, 1890

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 23, 1892

Anderson Flour Mill Burned -The Chico Weekly Enterprise newspaper of Chico, March 15, 1895

Married At A Ripe Age - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, April 3, 1899

Climax of the Quarrel - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 10, 1899

It May Be Sensational - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, October 20, 1899

Elusive Doctor Davison - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 20, 1899

Says He Married Her For Her Money - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, December 21, 1899

1900 U.S. Census

Sent Back To Shasta County - The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper of San Francisco, February 1, 1900

Family Row Nearly Ends in Murder - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, March 14, 1900

Much Bad Blood and Bird Shot - San Jose Herald newspaper of San Jose, March 14, 1900

Mrs. J.F. Bedford Is Seriously Sick - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 2, 1901

Mrs. Virginia Bedford Dead - The Chico Weekly Enterprise newspaper of Chico, April 5, 1901

Death Of Mrs. Mary Lawshe - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 9, 1904

From Neighboring Towns and Adjacent Counties - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, May 11, 1904

Anderson Has Disastrous Blaze - Chico Record newspaper of Chico, August 8, 1905

Red Bluff - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, September 30, 1905

Packing House to Be Built - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 21, 1906

A Fruit Packing House To Be Built - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 22, 1906

Good Season for Fruit - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, September 3, 1907

Pioneer Merchant Is Dead - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, November 29, 1910

Died - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, November 29, 1910

Pioneer Merchant Dies At the Age of Seventy-Six - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, November 29, 1910

Want Will Probated - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 3, 1910

James F. Bedford Beaten And Stabbed By Jeremiah Wright - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 24, 1911

James Bedford Beaten And Stabbed In Street -The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 24, 1911

Shasta Man Stabs His Old Partner - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 24, 1911

Stabbed By a Former Partner - Colusa Daily Sun newspaper of Colusa, May 24, 1911

Bedford-Wright Feud Like Those of Kentucky Hills - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 25, 1911

Victim of Assault Is in No Danger - Colusa Daily Sun newspaper of Colusa, May 25, 1911

Shasta Merchant Stabbed on Street - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, May 25, 1911

James F. Bedford Doing Splendidly - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 25, 1911

Many Prisoners In Shasta  - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, May 26, 1911

Old Feud Ends with Assault - The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper of Marysville, May 26, 1911

Was Attacked by Uncle - The Napa Weekly Journal newspaper of Napa, May 26, 1911

To Take Bedford To The Lane Hospital - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, May 29, 1911

Bedford Will Not Prosecute Wright - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, June 11, 1911

Bitter Feud Ends in Shasta County - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, June 11, 1911

Cracksmen Fail to Secure Loot - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, December 23, 1911

Will Subdivide Tract - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 1, 1913

Jeremiah Pearson Wright, Pioneer of Anderson, Dies At Oakland, Aged 71 Years. - The Anderson Valley News newspaper of Anderson, May 25, 1916

Card Of Thanks - The Anderson Valley News newspaper of Anderson, May 25, 1916

James F. Bedford Sues F.B. Collum $725 On Promisary Note - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 18, 1927

James F. Bedford, Pioneer Merchant, Passes At Home - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 21, 1936

J.F. Bedford's Largest In Town History - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 22, 1936

Bedford Estate Is Bequeathed To Wife and Mrs. Donnelly - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, January 30, 1936

Dunlap Buys Bedford Store - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 1, 1944

Dunlaps Store In Anderson Is Remodeled - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 7, 1944

The Town Of Anderson Grew From Teamsters Campground Site written by Rosena A. Giles - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, January 4, 1951

John Franklin Bedford (1834-1911) Find A Grave Memorial

Ella V. (Wright) Bedford (1838-1901) Find A Grave Memorial

James Franklin Bedford (1859-1936) Find A Grave Memorial  (Note: an error on this Find A Grave claims that James Franklin Bedford died in 1935. That is incorrect.) 

Susan Lily (Jones) Bedford (1861-1954) Find A Grave Memorial

Uel Lambkin Wright (1808-1877) Find A Grave Memorial

Mary (Pearson) Wright-Lawshe (1820-1904) Find A Grave Memorial

Jeremiah "Jerry" Pearson Wright (1844-1916) Find A Grave Memorial

Sarah Jane (Martin) Wright (1853-1905) Find A Grave Memorial