YUBA COUNTY Biographies
JAMES EDMAN PLASKETT
A retired rancher who, through untiring effort and energy, close study, and careful attention to vital interests, has made a place for himself among the men worthy of mention in the making of the Golden State, is James Edman Plaskett, who was born either in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, Canada. His father being engaged in shipping lumber, our subject has never known just where they were residing when he was born, on May 13, 1838, in that country. His parents were Joseph and Lucretia (Wallace) Plaskett, natives of Carlisle, England, and Canada, respectively. As stated above, Joseph Plaskett, the father, was engaged in shipping lumber from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine to England. In 1842, the family moved to Wayne County, Pa., where he continued in his lumber and farming business. Mrs. Plaskett was of Scotch descent. She passed away when her son James was a young lad. Joseph Plaskett came to California in 1855 via the Panama route, and was laid away to rest in the Golden State. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Plaskett were the parents of nine children: William, deceased, who was a major in the 144th Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry and served in the army of the Potomac during the Civil War; Sarah; Jane; two other girls, who died in infancy; Peter; James Edman, the subject of this review; John; and Henry.
James Edman Plaskett attended the district schools in Pennsylvania and finished his education at Laurel Hill Seminary in Deposit, N.Y. However, he received the greater part of his knowledge from the school of experience. He is vitally interested in all progressive movements and is very well posted on all of the important topics of the day. In 1857 he started out for himself, and came to California via Panama, taking passage on the Moses Taylor from New York to Aspinwall and on the Golden Age from Panama to San Francisco, his destination being Forbestown. He came up the Sacramento River as far as Sacramento, where he stopped for a few days; and then he journeyed up the Feather River by boat to Marysville, where he landed. From there he came by stage via Oroville to Forbestown, and passed through Yuba and Butte Counties en route. He was so impressed with the wonderful country that after he had his fill of mining he determined to remain in California and locate in the Sacramento Valley. Mr. Plaskett mined from 1857 to 1864 in Empire Hill and other places in Plumas, Butte, and Yuba Counties, also traveling over parts of Nevada and Arizona. When he returned to Sutter County, he preempted a quarter-section of government land five miles west of Yuba City, adding additional land from time to time until he acquired 800 acres. At first he raised whatever seemed the most profitable; but later he raised grain, and of recent years he has developed this land into a profitable orchard and vineyard.
James Edman Plaskett returned to New York and married Miss Emma Bortle on May 13, 1868, in Hancock, Delaware County. She was born in Greene County, N. Y., and reared in Delaware County, the same State, and was a daughter of Daniel and Rose Bortle. Mr. and Mrs. Plaskett became the parents of eight children: Isabelle, Mrs. W. W. Brawn, of San Francisco; May, Mrs. Jess Flanery, of Yuba City; James Wallace, residing at home; Gertrude, Mrs. J. M. Maynard, also on the home place; Bertha, Mrs. C. P. Reische, of Meridian; Sylvester L., William and Henry, all residing at home. They are the grandparents of twelve children. James Wallace was united in marriage with Miss Myra Elizabeth Poe, on July 3, 1905, at Marysville. She was born at Lakeport, Lake County, a daughter of Alonzo and Elizabeth Poe, and was reared from the time she was four years old at Lincoln, Placer County. Of recent years James Edman Plaskett has given portions of the home place to his children, but the land still remains in the family. A stanch Republican, Mr. Plaskett is a loyal supporter of the principles of that party.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 903
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