Shasta County History Books  

History Books About

Shasta Co., CA

The History of the Chinese in Shasta Co.
Written by Dottie Smith
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Dottie Smith

This book chronicles the history of the Chinese in Shasta County beginning with their arrival here during the Gold Rush. It is a chronological history and reads much like a journal. It contains an extensive index. The majority of the text was taken from local newspapers of the time. It is very interesting and opens the readers eyes to a somewhat unknown world not generally known to many people.

 
 
The History of the Indians of Shasta Co.
Written by Dottie Smith
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Dottie Smith

Of all the books I have written, this was definitely the most emotional and hardest to compile, write, and finish. It was, at times, so emotionally draining and overwhelming to me, I had to put it aside to collect my feelings and thoughts. I was overwhelmed with the information I found about the many atrocities committed against the Indian peoples such as the extermination attempts, poisonings, mass starvations, untreated sicknesses, etc. Some of the stories are so sad, tragic, and terrible they are almost unbelievable. This book is arranged in chronological order and reads much like a journal. The book has an extensive index. The first entry is for the year 1815; the last entry is for 1995. People tell me it is very hard to put down once you start to read it.

The Dictionary of Early Shasta Co. History
Written by Dottie Smith
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Dottie Smith

Of all the books I have written, this is my favorite. It is just as its name implies - a dictionary. It is very easy to use and very very informative and has just about every answer to any question you would ask about early Shasta County history. Included in it are everything from soup to nuts - but seriously, it is about people, places, and things. All the information is in alphabetical order, just like a dictionary. An added feature is easy access to more information on whatever it is you are searching for. Bolded words appear throughout the book in every entry and the bolded words are the words that lead you to another source (in many instances). I just recently (December of 1999) finished the 2nd Edition of the book. Of all my books, this is the one I will never finish because I intend to continue compiling historical information (until I can’t anymore) and when I compile enough, I will publish another edition. It took me almost 10 years between editions, but it was long enough to almost double the information in the book. It is a great book and the one I am most proud of! 

 
Registered Historic Places of Shasta Co.
Written by Dottie Smith
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Dottie Smith

This book lists all the ‘official’ registered historic places in Shasta County along with a map guiding you to each location, sometimes a photo, and the history of the place. It is a great book to keep in your car so you’ll have it ready when you take those Sunday drives! It is very informative, easy to use, and has a lengthy index.  

 
The History of Cottonwood, CA
Now and Then
Written by Dottie Smith
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Dottie Smith

I once lived in Cottonwood and absolutely loved the town, the people, and the history of it. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. The text is arranged in chronological order and reads much like a journal. The first entry begins in the 1820's, the last entry is for 1993. There are also historical photos. Most of the information in the book is taken from local newspapers. The book contains a very lengthy index. When you read this book, you’ll understand why I love Cottonwood.  

 
Rooted In Shasta County
Written by Jeremy M. Tuggle
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Jeremy Tuggle
 
**3rd Edition is now available**
Webpage
Few people can claim to be more Rooted In Shasta County than Jeremy Tuggle. As he tells us in the "Preface" of this book, his roots in the county run deep and wide. Between 1849 and 1889, pioneers from eleven of his ancestral families made Shasta County their home. Fourteen of his great, great, great  grandparents lived in Shasta County, as did twelve of his ancestors from the generation before that, and two of his forbears from the generation before that one. Tuggle became fascinated with the lives of these pioneers during his early childhood when his great grandmother Wanda would entertain him with stories that had been handed down through the family about the rigors of pioneer life. He never forgot those stories, and as he grew older he became an avid student of Shasta County history and a keen researcher into his own family's heritage. This book presents the results of his research, weaving together elements of Shasta County history with accounts of pioneering families with names like Scott, Gray, Meyer, Doll, Stevenson, Felch, Kidder, McFarlin, Hammans, and Tuggle, among others.

Starting in 1849, when {Old} Shasta was the largest town in the county, through the 1850s, when Millville became the second largest community, and into the 1860s, when Redding still did not exist and Ono was an up-and-coming place to live, Tuggle tells of gold miners seeking their fortunes, entrepreneurs developing businesses and farmers buying up land. he also gets to the bottom of the question of how the town of Ono got its name. For Tuggle, it is not just Shasta County history; it is all part of his family history as well.

I had the pleasure to meet Jeremy a few years ago when he enrolled in a history class I was teaching. I soon realized he was one of those rare students with a burning desire to learn history. Jeremy is a young man who definately has the history fever. I can relate to him because I too have suffered with the same fever. Because he is young, the world is just opening to him. Now that he has this wonderful first book under his belt, what will be next?
(Dottie Smith, Curator, Shasta College Musuem and Research Center)

Jeremy M. Tuggle was born and raised in Shasta Count, graduated from Central Valley High School and is now attending Shasta College. He is a lifetime member of the Shasta Historical Society and a contributor to the Society's journal, the Covered Wagon.

 
A Journey Through Time:
Ono and the Bald Hills
Written by Jeremy M. Tuggle
For information on prices or ordering these books contact Jeremy Tuggle
 
Webpage
Drive down towards the southwest corner of Shasta County, California, out along Clear Creek Road, past the turnoff to Igo, through Ono and beyond- into the Bald Hills- and you will probably feel like you've arrived in on eof the least developed regions in the county. If you could step back in time a hundred to a hundred-and-fifty years ago, however, you would find yourself surrounded by gold rush pandemonium: small towns (complete with hotels, merchandise stores and saloons) bustling with activity; gold miners toiling away in deep mine shafts; when communities with names like Arbuckle Gulch, Harrison Gulch, Roaring River and Gas Point, among others, existed, some of them thriving little boomtowns. 


In this volume Jeremy Tuggle sheds much needed light on the colorful history of this oft-forgotten corner of Shasta County. Drawing on old newspaper accounts and other historical documents, together with the oral traditions kept alive by current residents, Tuggle brings this bygone era back to life again.
 
I find it a well written, well documented source of history for western Shasta County- particulary the Igo-Ono area. It is easily readable, with a wealth of names, dates, and places. I would not hesitate to recommend it. - Marie Carr-Fitzgerald, President Shasta Historical Society
 
 
 

Millville, a Bridge to the Past

For information on prices or ordering these books contact Flora Pearson
or check the Website

Millville, A Bridge To The Past tells the stories of families that came searching for gold and stayed to ranch and farm, the struggles they faced.  The building of Millville in 1853, the flour mill, IOOF and Masonic Lodges and Millville Elementary School sharing a building, hotels, bars, dance hall, a Calaboose, Blacksmith shops, Doctors and three newspapers.