Individual 1945: Henry Clay Stockton

Individual Record 1945

Name} Stockton, Henry Clay (Decke)

Family History} Hancock

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Cal 1828-29

Place} , , Kentucky

Marr.: Date} Fam 1855

Place} Maysville, Mason, Kentucky (Link)

Marr.: Date} Cir 1863

Place} (Link)

Death: Date} Fam 21 Apr 1884

Place} Susanville, Lassen, California

Burial: Date} Cir 24 Apr 1884

Place}

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	1012=1870 USA cen
Source 2}	1013=1880 USA cen
Source 3}	1010=Geog history
Source 4}	1014=Geog history
Source 5}	1015=Geog history
Source 6}	1016=Court record
Source 7}	873 = Memoirs
Source 8}	1009=Letters
Source 9}	1008=Family history
Source 10}	1011=Family history
Source 11}
Source 12}

Parents: } John D. Stockton & Matilda Spiers
Relationship No.} None

1st Household No.}

Occupation 1} Miner
   Occupation 2} Sheriff
   Occupation 3} Lumberman
   Occupation 4} Farmer

Religion/Church}

Spouses: First} Andrews, James Ella
Second} Doty, Anna Elizabeth (Annie)
Total Number of} 2

Notes: In 1849 Decke left Kentucky and came to California as a pioneer Gold Rush miner. He was a very successful miner in the Shasta County, California, area.

In 1853 Decke was 24 and a boss ox-driver in Shasta County. He was said to argue seriously that if a man did not know how to drive oxen he did not know how to do anything. Decke had sixteen yoke on one wagon, loaded down, so that the axles dragged in the mud, with freight for Horsetown. The gold miners on his arrival were waiting with flour sacks to buy from ten to 50 pounds at $1 per pound, and local boarders, after that, would have something besides boiled barley and potatoes for their $1 per meal.

In 1854 Decke became the sheriff of Shasta County, and he continued in that position until 1863. In 1859 he was the only law enforcement officer in Northern California to request arms from the Governor of California to protect the Chinese when there was a huge uproar here within the state to deport all the Chinese from the gold camps and send them back to China. Decke made it known through newspaper ads that he was going to defend the Chinese of Shasta County. He received 200 Springfield rifles from the Governor's armory in Sacramento. Everyone in the Shasta area gained a lot of respect for him at that time. He later gave up the position of Sheriff of Shasta County when his wife James Ella died giving birth to their daughter.

Lassen County was established on 1 Apr 1864, formed out of parts of Plumas and Shasta Counties. The new county seat was Susanville. Decke was one of three Lassen County Supervisors when they divided the new county into three districts on 11 Apr 1864. Decke was elected as Supervisor of District No. 1 on 4 May 1864.

In 1870 Decke was 42, lived in Susanville, was a co-owner (since 1861) of a lumber mill at Cottonwood, and gave his occupation as lumberman.

In 1880 Decke gave his occupation as farmer and had cattle ranch near Susanville. He died there in 1884. The ranch holdings were then sold and his family scattered.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death}

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date}

Place}

Confirm. Date}

Photo} None

Immigr'n Date} N/A

Port} N/A

Education: Grade} or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition}
Cause of Death}

Last Updated
by} Dan Hancock

Date Updated} 1 Sep 2007
Date Created} 29 Aug 2007

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