Mary Brown & Red Bluff Part 3

Continued from Part 2

Mary Brown, widow of infamous abolitionist John Brown, stood in the midst of a mystery history almost forgot.

This story begins before the Browns arrival in Red Bluff, although they were unquestionably linked with the unfolding circumstances.

When a state entered the Union, as California did in 1850, surveys were made to determine its official borders. In the haste to recognize California, this wasn’t done, creating many legal problems.

“Red Bluffs”, as it was originally known, sat at the farthest accessible point north on the Sacramento River. That made it ideal for steamboat travel, which brought new settlers and abundant commerce.

One of these early settlers was J. Granville Doll. He was to be a critical figure in solving the riddle of Mrs. Brown’s home and legal problems that still occur with real estate borders in Red Bluff today.

Mr. Doll wanted to build a land empire. After settling in the area, he purchased federal land grants for property in and around the Red Bluff area. Forming a land corporation with 2 other businessmen, the company continued purchasing land grants in northern California. They then had the land surrounding Red Bluff officially surveyed, intending to lay out various developments, then sell these for huge profits.

There was a problem – people had already settled on some of the land and they didn’t want to move! This didn’t stop the land corporation. They began filing lawsuits to clear the “squatters”.

Winning many of the lawsuits, the corporation then threw occupants off “their” land. The citizens of Red Bluffs fought back, incorporating the town and electing town officials. They figured that would stop the would-be land barons.

Now what do these real estate squabbles have to do with Mrs. Brown? Wait for Part IV, the conclusion of this story.