Elias Anderson (1817-1907), the Founder of Anderson, California.

 

How did the City of Anderson receive its name? Who was the person this burgeoning present-day city is named for? When was the City of Anderson incorporated? Find out more about Elias Anderson and the city which bores his surname in this newest installment of Exploring Shasta County History from local historian and author, Jeremy M. Tuggle. 

RESOURCES:

Elias Anderson in the California, U.S., Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950; available on Ancestry.com

1830 U.S. Census

A HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.

U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971

1850 U.S. Census

School Districts of Shasta County 1853-1955 compiled by Veronica Satorius

1860 U.S. Census

Died - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, July 27, 1861

List Of Post Offices -The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, December 19, 1863

Died - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 4, 1867

1867, Shasta County Voters Registration 

1870 U.S. Census

New Store! - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, March 1, 1873

The Shasta Courier newspaper July 19, 1873

Lots For Sale in the Town of Shasta Co., Cal. - The Sentinel Newspaper of Red Bluff, October 24, 1874

Died - The Reading Independent newspaper of Redding, August 14, 1979

1880 U.S. Census

History and Business Directory - Shasta County - 1881 by B.F. Frank and H.W. Chappell. Redding Independent Book and Job Printing House, Redding, California, ©1881.

1885, Shasta County Directory

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps - Anderson, California, 1881-1947

A Big Fire at Anderson - The Chico Weekly Enterprise newspaper of Chico, January 28, 1887

Anderson In Ashes - The Marysville Daily Appeal newspaper of Marysville, January 30, 1887

The Fire at Anderson - The Chico Weekly Enterprise newspaper of Chico, February 4, 1887

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 2, 1889

The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 6, 1889

1899, City & Business Directory of Shasta County

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, September 30, 1899

1900 U.S. Census

The Free Press newspaper of Redding, January 23, 1901

Death of a Pioneer Woman - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 4, 1903

Aged Lady Passes Away - The Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 6, 1903

Oldest Man in County Lives at Anderson - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, August 23, 1906

Founder Of Anderson Dies at Advanced Age - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento,

Oldest Man in County is Dead - The Searchlight newspaper of Redding, October 1,1907

Anderson To Incorporate - The Sacramento Daily Union newspaper of Sacramento, February 5, 1912 

Found Dead in Bed in a Home in Anderson - The Shasta Courier newspaper of Shasta, May 28, 1931

Our Storied Landmarks – Shasta County, California, written by May H. Southern, published by Balakshin Printing Company, ©1942.

My Playhouse Was a Concord Coach, an anthology of newspaper clippings and documents relating to those who made California history during the years 1822-1888, by Mae Hélène Bacon Boggs. Published by Howell-North Press ©1942

Shasta Historical Society Pioneer Plaque file: AP-023 - Anderson, Elias, available on file at the Shasta Historical Society

979.424 - Anderson. Shasta Historical Society, Vertical files. 

979.424 (324) Anderson (history) unknown author

Shasta Historical Society Pioneer Record: Elias Anderson, dated April 8, 1943

Shasta Historical Society Genealogical Records 7-59: Elias Anderson

Shasta Historical Society Genealogical Records 7-59: George H. Anderson

Shasta Historical Society Pioneer Record: George H. Anderson, dated: January 18, 1945

Shasta County, California A History by Rosena Giles, published by Biobooks, ©1949.

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

Way Back When - Myrtle McNamar, published by C.A.T. Publishing of Redding, California, 1952. 282 pages.

City of Anderson owes its name to early-day farmer written by Elizabeth Dellow - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 30, 1963

In the Shadow of the Mountain a Short History of Shasta County, California, by Edward Petersen ©1965

Place Names of Shasta County by Gertrude A. Steger revision by Helen Hinckley Jones, ©1966 by La Siesta Pressy, Glendale, California

Elias's Town Has Grown by John Lawson - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 18, 1969

The House That Elias Anderson Built - The Anderson Press newspaper of Anderson, March 24, 1976

Anderson house plan studied - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, September 9, 1976

Anderson project will be backed - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, November 9, 1976

Anderson gets plea to repair old house - The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, August 2, 1978

Anderson House Wins Reprieve - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, February 6, 1980

Anderson House To Be Saved - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, March 4, 1980

House: Time Running Out - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 14, 1980

Old Anderson House Doomed - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, April 15, 1980

Historic Anderson House Has to Go by Pat Lakey - The Record Searchlight newspaper of Redding, May 8, 1980

9579.424 (324) Anderson by Laura Gurwell, January 12, 1987

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

Exploring Shasta County history with Jeremy M. Tuggle

Welcome to my new Blog Spot, Exploring Shasta County History, created by Google! If you enjoy Shasta County history then this is the place for you to be. I'm very passionate about local history, I own most of the photographs that will be used on this Blog Spot. If I don't own the rights to publish the photographs then a ‘used courtesy of’ will be granted to those who allow me to post their pictures.

 

Before we dive into the rich and compelling history of Shasta County, here is some information about me.  My name is Jeremy M. Tuggle and I was born in Redding in 1982. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Boy Scouts of America in November of 2000, earning the highest award one can achieve in scouting. I graduated from the class of 2001 from Central Valley High School in Shasta Lake City.

I am employed at the Shasta Historical Society as their Visitor And Historical Services Associate and I also work for In Home Health Services providing care for my great grandmother. I am a descendant of 11 Shasta County pioneer families recognized by the Shasta Historical Society, the majority of my family settled between 1849-1889 in Shasta County. I am the author of two published books, Rooted in Shasta County (2003) and A Journey Through Time: Ono and the Bald Hills (2008) including various articles on local history.

As the Visitor and Historical Services Associate for the Shasta Historical Society, I visit the local schools, senior citizen homes and various organizations in our area. During my presentations I give intriguing programs and lectures about Shasta County history. I am also an active and lifetime member of the Shasta Historical Society and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of California.

 

My wife, Leah and I, have one son, Carson. Carson's identical twin brother, Jason, died shortly after birth.  Just recently, on October 2, 2017, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Major Pierson B. Reading Chapter of Redding honored me with their Community Service Award, a prestigious National award honoring my work in historic preservation in the community throughout my personal and professional life and a Chapter Achievement award. I was very pleased and honored to receive these awards from them. One minor detail I need to mention is that this web-site is not associated with the Shasta Historical Society in any form. Thank you for visiting.

Jeremy M. Tuggle giving a power point presentation to the Shasta Miners and Prospectors Association in Anderson. This photo was taken by Leah Tuggle on August 17, 2017.

The attending crowd at a presentation given by Jeremy M. Tuggle on August 17, 2017.