California Genealogy

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, January 1925 January 7, 1925 30 Years Ago And Now When hens were $3 per dozen, roosters 10 cents a piece, eggs 3 dozen for 25 cents, butter 10 cents per pound, milk 5 cents per quart, the butcher gave away liver and treated the kids to bologna’s, the hired girl received two dollars per week and did the washin’; women did not powder or paint, in public, smoke, vote, play poker or shake the shimmie. Men wore whiskers and boots, spit on the sidewalk, chewed tobacco and cussed; beer was 5 cents … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, January 1926 January 6, 1926 Dr. Kennedy performed an operation on M. Chester last week and he is getting along as well as could be expected. The operation was delicate one and owing to Mr. Chesters’ advanced age, the outcome is doubtful. Dorris Fulcher of Bidwell was shot and slightly wounded by Harry Calderwood last Christmas night. They attended a dance at Adel, where the shooting occurred. Too much moonshine is said to have been the cause of the shooting. Some of the young men in Modoc should take due notice and govern … Read more

In 1917 and 1918, approximately 24 million men, (98 percent of men present in America), born between 1873 and 1900 completed draft registration cards. During these two years, three registration days were held in each district where the registrant completed the registration card. Information found on these cards generally included, among other information, birth date, birth location, father’s birthplace, and the address of next of kin. This civilian registration is often confused with induction into the military; however, only a small percentage of these men were actually called up for military service. G – I Surnames – 1917-1918 Modoc County … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, January 1923 Wednesday January 3, 1923 Retiring Officers Next Monday, Mrs. Nettie Harris retires from the office of School Superintendent of Modoc. For the past twelve years she has filled that office and discharged the duties in a highly efficient manner. In fact it can be truthfully said that she was the best Superintendent that Modoc ever had and the best wishes of her many friends follow her wherever she may cast her lines. John C. Sharp will retire from the Supervisor-ship of 2nd district, but will assume the more responsible duties of … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, January 1922 Wednesday, January 4, 1922 Alex Weilmunster and Mrs. Daisy Weilmunster were married at Reno one day last week and returned to their ranch in Long Valley. [1]Note: They were married in 1912. ??? BCR H. B. Stephens of Fort Bidwell went to San Francisco last week to be at the bedside of his son, Harry, who is reported seriously ill. We hope to hear of his recovery very soon. McCulley & Rea have dissolved partnership in the McCulley & Rea hardware business, which they have conducted here for the past ten … Read more

This site is a county site for California AHGP, a state organization of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). AHGP is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. You have apparently stumbled upon my contribution to this effort. Our name are Judy White and Dennis Partridge, and we are the joint CAAHGP county coordinators (cc) for Modoc County, California. If you would like to contribute data to this website please contact us, using the comment form! This, the northeastern county of the … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, February 1925 February 4, 1925 Conditions Outside Surprise R. H. Stanley, Cedarville, Cal. Dear Sir: – last week I saw a line in the Record that read like this, “Send me some news.” Now I never did send in a news item in my life and don’t suppose that I could, but for the benefit of the people who sometimes think that they live in the worst place in the world when they are in old Surprise, I will say, that they are mistaken. While I am not living in Surprise Valley at … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, February 1926 February 3, 1926 Rev. M. J. Williams took his wife to Alturas Tuesday morning to take the train for St. Helena, where Mrs. Williams will be a patient at the St. Helena Sanitarium for an indefinite period. Mrs. John Royce, who has been in a state of very poor health for sometime, is now at Fort Bidwell, receiving treatment from Dr. Elizabeth Bush, Chiropractor, and is reported as being somewhat, improved. We are glad to report Mrs. S. B. Strief as improving. Mrs. Joe Simms is staying with her. Mrs. Winnie … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, February 1922 Wednesday, February 1, 1922 A Narrow Escape Some evenings ago while Mrs. Stiner was calling on her neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. George Toney, near Lake City the gasoline lamp exploded, setting fire to the room. With rare presence of mind, Mrs. Stiner picked up the flaming lamp and hurled it out of door. In doing so her clothing caught fire and she was badly burned about the arms and body. However, the burns were not serious and she will soon recover from the accident. The case of Hutchinson vs Sweeney is … Read more

Surprise Valley Record, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, February 1923 Wednesday February 7, 1923 Wiley Allen in formed us that his brother Grover is over in London, England, where he is now engaged in the garage business and is doing well. He ordered the Record sent to him there. Mrs. J. R. Polander, one of the old and highly esteemed residents of Lake City passed away last Wednesday night, leaving a husband and several children to mourn her loss, and to whom the Record extends sympathy in their sorrow. We expect to publish her obituary as soon as it is obtainable. … Read more